Weekly Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Brief for East and Central Africa (Somalia, Mozambique, DR-Congo): Tracking Islamic State Terrorists in Period of 19th February – 26th February 2021

The Islamic State provinces in East and Central Africa that are ISCAP in Mozambique and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Abnaa Ul Calipha in Somalia have exhibited a lull in activities in the herein referenced week. With DRC showing a militancy that is bolstered and with a mission to capture and have a significant presence in Beni’s Rwenzori sector, and Ituri province’s Irumu territory. Mozambique’s and Somalia’s arms showing a significant decline in their activities while their counterpart in. While that is just the observables for the week the groups have displayed their capabilities and especially in the previous months where the group in especially in Mozambique has conducted large-scale attacks both in terms of geographical reach and high-causality-attacks. In DRC, since the beginning of the year, the group has been exhibiting its capacity to attack with the last week being no exception. The group has focussed its attacks on Christians and farmers in both provinces.

ISCAP Attacks in Mozambique and DRC (19^th – 26^th February 202)

DRC

• 19^th Feb- 1 killed and 1 person kidnapped by ISCAP in Maleki village, Batangi-Mbau Sector Beni. All the victims were farmers.
• 19^th Feb- 1 person killedby ISCAP in Masupa village
• 19^th Feb- 1 person killed and another injured in Masuku Village
• 21^st Feb- 1 farmer was killed in Palunza village in Beni
• 23^rd Feb- one person was killed in Mayiyambiluku in Beni
• 23^rd Feb- 10 people killed in Kisima Village, Rwenzori sector. They were all savagely killed with knives or firearms.
• 24^th Feb- 12 people killed in a double attack in Kisima in the Rwenzori sector
• 24^th Feb- 5 Christians killed during raids in Rwenzori sector.
• 24^th Feb- 3 Christians killed, building burned down in Ituri province
• 24^th Feb- 2 people killed; one was beheaded and the other’s throat was slit in Kisiki locality, Beni as they were returning from their fields.
• 25^th Feb- 3 killed in Mambelenga in Irumu territory in Ituri Province. Several houses were set on fire.

MOZAMBIQUE

• 19^th Feb- ISCAP militants attacked Quionga in Palma district of Cabo Delgado Province.
• 23^rd Feb- 3 men were beheaded when ISCAP attacked Mitope village, Nangande, and kidnapped 3 women.
• 26^th Feb- militants attack Luneke village in the vicinity of the district headquarters of Nangade

Observations and Analysis

In DRC, as evidenced by the herein highlighted statistics the number of attacks especially in the Rwenzori sector of the Beni region and Irumu Territory of Ituri province is on a steady rise an indicator that the group has been trying to establish bases in the region. The group has been attacking farmers as they either head out or in from their fields as well as Christians. While attacks have been consistent, it also shows that the group is using both guns and crude weapons as well as targeting the military in a bid to equip its growing population.

In DRC, ISCAP insurgents continue to launch attacks on the Christian population as well as the military who they have dubbed interventionists. The insurgents attack villages killing residents with knives and guns and often engage the troops deployed in the North Kivu Province to curb the growing threat of the ISIS-affiliated militants. Unlike in Mozambique where the attacks appear to be indiscriminate in the Beni region the militants attack the majority Christian populace. It is apparent that ISCAP has morphed into a great threat in East and Central Africa and is operating with the ISIS-Central playbook which includes making huge international headlines publicizing their activities.

The military in DRC has launched an operation called “Ruwenzori II”, in the territory of Beni, in North Kivu that is geared at fighting the militants in the Rwenzori sector to ensure that they don’t gain access to the forested region that make for prime camp and training grounds.

Islamist attacks in Mozambique’s remote north have become less frequent and violent in recent weeks, a trend that analysts attribute in part to scaled-up counter-insurgency tactics. The decline in recorded militant attacks in Cabo Delgado is can be credited to the rainy season, which started this past month.  Last year, the end of the rainy season in March saw an unprecedented wave of insurgent offensives that have since displaced half a million. According to intelligence, escapees from ISCAP have maintained that the group has foot shortages that have resulted in the group’s morale is down and the rainy season is the partly responsible as the group cannot conduct attacks and lootings for supplies.